President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Prof. Pius Olanrewaju, has blamed the growing involvement of Nigerian youths in financial crimes on impatience, declining moral values and the increasing culture of instant gratification permeating society.

Speaking in Lagos at the public presentation of ‘Clean Hands, Bright Future: A Youth Guide to Avoiding Financial Crime in Africa’, a book authored by financial crime specialist Adedayo Aluko, Olanrewaju warned that the desperation for quick wealth is pushing many young Nigerians into fraudulent activities with damaging consequences for the country’s social and economic future.

According to him, integrity and ethical conduct remain foundational not only to the banking profession but also to sustainable personal and national development. He described the book as timely, noting that the challenge of financial crime now extends beyond the banking sector and reflects a broader ethical crisis confronting the nation.

He argued that many of the country’s governance and institutional problems stem from a gradual erosion of values, stressing that corruption and unethical practices flourish where integrity is no longer prioritised.

He urged young Nigerians to embrace legitimate enterprise, discipline and long-term thinking rather than succumb to the pressure of social expectations and the lure of illicit wealth.

The author, Aluko, said the publication was inspired by growing concern over the rate at which young Nigerians are becoming entangled in illicit financial activities.

Drawing from his experience in correspondent banking, cryptocurrency and payment systems, he said the book was written to help young people understand both the causes and consequences of financial crime while also highlighting legitimate alternatives through skills acquisition and ethical conduct.

“Financial crime is not primarily being committed by older adults, but largely by young people, typically between the ages of 17 and 35. The rate at which this is happening is quite alarming,” Aluko said.

He also argued that public understanding of financial crime remains limited, noting that many Nigerians wrongly equate the problem solely with internet fraud, popularly called yahoo yahoo.